Basal and Oxidative Stress–Induced Expression of Metallothionein Is Decreased in Ascending Aortic Aneurysms of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients

摘要

BackgroundBicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a heritable condition that has been linked by an unknown mechanism to a predisposition for ascending aortic aneurysm. Matrix metalloproteinases have been implicated in this predisposition. Metallothionein is a poorly characterized, metal-binding protein that regulates matrix metalloproteinases and is an antioxidant known to be upregulated under oxidative stress.